By Bunmi Yekini
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has criticized the Federal Government of Nigeria for undermining the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by persistently underfunding its implementation. According to the MRA, only 13 out of over 1,300 federal public institutions have allocated resources for FOI-related activities in the 2025 budget, amounting to a mere 0.000464% of the total federal budget of N49.74 trillion.
In its newly released 22-page report titled “A Vote Against Transparency: A Report on Allocations for Freedom of Information Implementation in 2025 Federal Budget”, MRA outlined the alarming inadequacy in funding for FOI-related activities and its broader implications on governance.
“There is a temptation to argue that it is far more important for the Government to spend resources on tangible projects such as infrastructure and other capital projects than on the implementation of the FOI Act,” said MRA Programme Officer, Mr. John Gbadamosi. “However, without adequate investment in the FOI Act to ensure government transparency and accountability, all other allocations for infrastructure and development projects are at risk of being misappropriated.”
Persistent Underfunding Undermines Transparency
Mr. Gbadamosi revealed that the total proposed allocation for FOI implementation in 2025 is N230.83 million, a 96.76% increase from 2024 but still grossly inadequate. The 13 public institutions with provisions for FOI implementation include the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Library of Nigeria, and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, among others. Despite the increase, he stressed that the government’s commitment to transparency remains in question.
“It is quite disheartening that nearly 14 years after the FOI Act became law, the Federal Government has, for the most part, failed to provide the necessary resources, infrastructure, and political will for its full and effective implementation,” Mr. Gbadamosi lamented. “This persistent neglect is fueling a culture of secrecy and corruption that the FOI Act was designed to combat.”
Call for Reforms and Sanctions
The report also highlights the government’s failure to enforce compliance with the FOI Act. “No single ministry, department, or agency has ever been sanctioned for flouting the Act, even in cases where court orders mandating compliance have been ignored,” said Mr. Gbadamosi.
He urged the Federal Government to adopt the 12 recommendations outlined in the report, including empowering the Federal Ministry of Justice to oversee and enforce compliance with the FOI Act. This would involve tracking response times, identifying bottlenecks, and gathering data to enhance implementation.
A Critical Tool for Democracy
MRA emphasized the long-term benefits of the FOI Act, which include enhancing government transparency, improving public trust, and fostering public participation in governance. Mr. Gbadamosi concluded, “The effective implementation of the FOI Act is not just about transparency, it’s about strengthening democracy and ensuring that public resources are used for the collective good.”